Android's earthquake alerts may have failed in Turkey

Image - AFP

"Google Responds to Android's Earthquake Alert Failure in Turkey"

• During a February earthquake in Turkey, the Android earthquake detection system apparently didn't work.
• According to the BBC, nobody got a warning before the first tremor.
• But Google says that the technology was functional during the earthquake.
• A comment has now been given by a Google spokesman.

July 28, 2023, 2:07 PM ET, update: Android Authority has received a comment from a Google representative.

"We’re tremendously saddened by the loss of life as a result of the recent tragic earthquakes in Turkey. The Android Earthquake Alerts System is a first-of-its-kind, supplemental service that uses phones to quickly estimate earthquake shaking and provide early warnings. It is not designed to replace any official or other public warning systems.

Our system detected both major earthquakes and many aftershocks in Turkey. During a devastating earthquake event, numerous factors can affect whether users receive, notice, or act on a supplemental alert – including the specific characteristics of the earthquake and the availability of internet connectivity. Users may also not see or pay attention to an alert in the middle of the night or while prioritizing personal and family safety during significant natural disasters.

We continue to learn from detections globally and our team is committed to improving the Android Earthquake Alerts System by continuing to invest in technology advancements and engaging with academic and natural disaster experts to help users stay safe."

Google's product head Micah Berman insisted that the earthquake detection technology had succeeded when initially informed that it looked to have failed. The BBC, however, noted that the individuals it spoke with adamantly denied receiving a warning.

Original (7/28/2023, 2:49 a.m. ET): A few seconds before an earthquake occurs, Google introduced an earthquake detection system for Android phones in 2020. Now, it appears that same device could have malfunctioned earlier this year during an earthquake in Turkey.

Following an early-morning earthquake in Turkey in February, about 60,000 people perished. However, according to the BBC, the Android earthquake detecting mechanism did not alert many households prior to the initial jolt. 

The accelerometer data from several smartphones is used by the Android earthquake detection system to identify shaking and determine the epicenter of an earthquake with accuracy. Users then receive a notice from the system, allowing them maybe between one and sixty seconds to take protective measures.

No warnings at all for the initial tremor?

The website said that after speaking to "hundreds" of people in three impacted cities, it had been unable to identify anyone who had been given a warning before the first earthquake. However, it did discover that "a small number" of users received a message for the second tremor, which occurred at lunch.

The BBC stated it didn't get any proof of the earthquake detection system's effectiveness, but Google product head Micah Berman assured that it had. 

According to Berman, it's possible that the notification "quietly happened in the background, while users were really paying attention to lots of other things." However, individuals who contacted with the BBC stated that this did not occur and that they had missed the alarm.

Google apparently provided the publication with a PDF file of 13 social media posts that mentioned an earthquake warning. A warning for the first tremor was only offered by one of the post writers. The author made it clear that although they thought they had gotten a warning, they couldn't be certain. Google also referenced user polls as evidence that the approach was effective, although it would not provide the BBC any specifics.

After the interview, the Google official issued the publication the following statement:

"During a devastating earthquake event, numerous factors can affect whether users receive, notice, or act on a supplemental alert — including the specific characteristics of the earthquake and the availability of internet connectivity."

In either case, if Google's Android earthquake detection technology does actually have significant problems in Turkey, we hope it takes steps to increase its dependability. Missing a WhatsApp notice is one thing, but missing a warning that might save your life is quite another. If it's any solace to Google, the feature outperformed iPhones during the San Jose, California, earthquake last year.

Nevertheless, we reached out to Google to inquire about if the system was operational in Turkey. If they respond, we'll update this piece.